Microplastic particles reduce reproduction in the terrestrial worm Enchytraeus crypticus in a soil exposure

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 255; no. Pt 2; p. 113174
• Main Authors: Lahive, Elma, Walton, Alexander, Horton, Alice A., Spurgeon, David J., Svendsen, Claus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2019
• Subjects: animal reproduction; Animals; dose response; Earthworms; Enchytraeus; Environmental Pollution; fluorescence microscopy; median effective concentration; microplastics; Microplastics - toxicity; Nylon; Oligochaeta - drug effects; Oligochaeta - physiology; oral exposure; Particle Size; Plastic; Plastics - toxicity; Pollution; poly(vinyl chloride); Polyamide; polyamides; PVC; Reproduction - drug effects; Soil; soil biota; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; toxicity; Polyamide; Pollution; Plastic; Nylon; PVC; Earthworms

Terrestrial environments are subject to extensive pollution by plastics and, based on the slow degradation of plastics, are likely to act as long term sinks for microplastic debris. Currently the hazards of microplastics in soil and the potential impacts on soil organisms is poorly understood. Parti...